Heart Hero Workshop Empowers Citizens with Life-Saving Skills
Duler, Feb 2026 – The Family Apostolate Animation Team of the Parish of St. Francis Xavier, Duler organized “Heart Hero” Workshop on Compression Only Life Support (COLS) – an initiative spearheaded by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) – Goa Unit, and promoted by the World Apostolate of Fatima (WAF), on Sunday, 15th February 2026.
It was the first workshop of its kind in Bardez and attended by more than 70 people. This workshop was initiated in keeping with the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes (11th February) who is often called upon as the guardian of Health. Mr. Lester Melo, Chairman of the World Apostolate of Fatima, which promoted the workshop, reaffirmed WAF’s commitment to such initiatives that nurture spiritual and social responsibility within the community.
Designed especially for lay persons, the workshop focused on empowering ordinary citizens to respond effectively during cardiac emergencies. Emphasising that the first 3 minutes after a sudden collapse are critical, the session highlighted how timely chest compressions by a family member or bystander can significantly improve survival outcomes before medical help arrives. Participants actively engaged and trained in the simple, practical technique that can be performed confidently in real-life situations. Each person got a chance to practice the technique on a mannequin, and were given tips and corrective remarks from the doctor present, making it a deeply practical learning experience.
The hands-on training was led by a team of doctors, including Dr. Sandeep Naik, President of IMA Bardez Branch, along with Dr. Shailesh Hede and Dr. Hemant Parsekar, who also shared their expertise in emergency response, trauma care, and life support.
The workshop received an encouraging response from parishioners and served as a reminder that life-saving heroes are often ordinary people, equipped with the right knowledge, compassion, and willingness to act. The organisers expressed heartfelt gratitude to the volunteer doctors, coordinators, and participants for making the initiative impactful and inspiring.
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